The Heartless Alpha’s Beloved Luna (Avery and Gideon) novel Chapter 17

Chapter 17

“Thank you,” I said gratefully.

“My pleasure!” he smiled, “Stabbing ice blocks is much easier than the things they usually have me stabbing. I appreciate the change of pace,”

He gestured at the mud that was prevalent across my clothing and skin, “So, who’s winning? You, or the dirt?”

“So far, solidly the dirt,” I admitted, “but we plan on turning a new leaf soon.”

“Ahhh, agricultural puns. Classic.” The warrior raised his cup in a toast. “Well, my sister told me I needed to get over here and muscle some hedgerows into order, or something like that. So just point me at your bushes and I’ll get to work.”

Somehow, he managed to slip a cheeky wink in as he said it, and I spluttered on my sip of juice.

I think I’m being flirted with? I realized with a jolt. That’s not happened in a while.

“I’m Avery,” I said, by way of introduction. The warrior’s eyes widened, and he nearly dropped his cup.”

“Oh! You’re the new Luna.” He immediately bowed his head. “Please forgive my informal statements, Luna. I meant no offense.

“Oh!” I stared back at him in consternation, “Oh, not at all! It was refreshing to talk to someone like a normal person for once.” I admitted. I hadn’t realized how much I’d missed it until now.

“Well, it’s my honor to meet you. I’m Ian,” the young warrior bowed again. “And that’s my sister, Melody,” he pointed at a young woman sitting nearby, who waved.

“Very nice to meet you as well, Ian.” I said, with genuine feeling, “Please don’t feel like you need to avoid me, just because I’m the new Luna.”

“I will do my best, Luna- er- Avery.” Ian gave a lopsided smile, “Though probably best if I stay out of your bushes.”

I laughed out loud. He was certainly a lively one.

We spent the rest of the afternoon casually chatting while we worked.

Ian told me about his sister and parents, and I talked a little bit about the nicer parts of my life, which is to say, I let Ian do most of the talking.

“Oh, what’s this?” Ian pointed at something buried in the soil. I leaned over him, intrigued, as he unearthed what looked like a ring from the dirt. “Someone’s lost ring?”

We rose together to examine what he’d found.

It was a large moonstone ring, though the stone was cracked down the middle. I put my hand on his to turn the ring from side to side in the light.

We were so absorbed in examining the lost piece of jewelry that it took me a moment to realize the rest of the planting group around us had gone silent.

I looked up to see Gideon and a group of warriors standing at the end of the garden, watching us.

I quickly withdrew my hand from Ian’s with a curse.

In an instant, Ian was darting down the garden to kneel before Gideon.

“Apologies for my offense, Alpha,” Ian said sincerely, head bowed, while I stared in disbelief. Gideon stared back at me over Ian’s prostrate form, his face a mask, unreadable.

Still meeting my eyes, Gideon said, “Fifty laps in the training ground. Now.”

Yes, Alpha.” Ian rose, bowed again, and took off towards the training grounds.

I strode down the garden towards Gideon, confused.

“He didn’t do anything wrong! Why punish him?”

In Silvermoon, those sorts of punishments were often just another form of bullying. An excuse to pick on someone lower in the hierarchy. I hated that kind of behavior.

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